Chapter 156 has a really high drop rate.
A-Jie did not immediately return to Chang'an.
That day, he lay on the grass in the courtyard of the Beitian Nursing Home for a long time in the sunlight, singing the nursery rhyme "Osmanthus Girl" for a long time.
He then spent two more days at the Beitian Nursing Home, living with the other disabled, elderly, and children there.
Ah Jie's wound had healed a bit when it was discovered that the monks in charge of his care had bandaged it. They all thought he was a pitiful person who had come to the temple seeking refuge, just like the other patients at the Compassionate Nursing Home.
A-Jie did not explain.
Like other disabled people in the facility who would otherwise have ended up on the streets, he eats two meals a day, does his best to wash and air out his bedding and clean the facility in the morning, and sunbathes in the afternoon.
Life at the nursing home moves at a very, very slow pace.
He almost forgot that he was a swordsman.
On a sunny day, A-Jie quietly descended the mountain again and, on the outermost edge of the crowd in Luming Street, witnessed the county-wide public trial held by the young magistrate.
A-Jie saw the young magistrate who had once saved his life speaking eloquently.
They also witnessed Liu Ziwen's cunning act of poisoning and silencing witnesses in court.
They also saw the crowd of people rush out and the man in the felt hat almost stabbed Liu Ziwen to death.
A-Jie saw all of this.
In the following days, he would clean the Beitian Nursing Home every morning and casually weave a kite for the disabled, deaf, and mute couple who were his childhood sweethearts. He would return home on time in the late afternoon.
During the rest of the day, A-Jie wandered through the streets and alleys, exploring every corner of this small town in Jiangnan.
He also silently witnessed the process by which the Longcheng County government, together with the local people, gradually dismantled the Liu family's power and assets after the public trial and the subsequent punishment of the Liu family.
The entire county town, from the streets and alleys to the teahouses, restaurants, and ordinary households, was filled with a festive atmosphere.
A-Jie even heard no fewer than three nursery rhymes celebrating the Liu family's misfortune, sung among children in the city and in disaster relief camps outside the city.
He later heard that Liu Ziwen was still alive and had barely survived the assassination attempt in the street.
After two days of silence, A-Jie gave the butterfly kite she had woven to the disabled childhood sweethearts and left the Beitian Nursing Home without saying goodbye.
In fact, there were very few people who needed to say goodbye, because very few people knew him. There were quite a few disabled people like him in the Beitian Nursing Home.
Before leaving, A-Jie secretly returned two jugs of wine to the steward named Xiu-Du—he had casually taken a few jugs to drink alone under the moonlight earlier.
A-Jie chose a moonlit night to leave Donglin Temple and return home.
After descending the mountain, he made a detour to the city to ask Liu Ziwen for something and return something to him.
The evening wind howled outside.
The room was pitch black.
After a sudden burst of pure white moonlight, the sound of breathing in the room fell silent.
It was quiet for a while.
Ah Jie hooked a head with its eyes wide open in death with two fingers, walked to the table, and placed it on the table.
His figure hesitated for a moment.
He silently unfastened the sword from his waist.
A-Jie went out and easily bypassed the guards watching outside the courtyard.
He leaped onto a rooftop and used his light-footed skill to dash towards the surging river in the distance.
The one-armed swordsman from Chang'an no longer had the Moon Maiden sword at his waist, but now had a bright moon above his head.
...
When Ouyang Rong learned of Liu Ziwen's death, he was near a water survey monument upstream of Butterfly Creek, investigating the grim rising water trend of Yunmeng Marsh.
"What? He was beheaded?"
Ouyang Rong was taken aback, then lowered his rolled-up sleeves and hurriedly returned to the county town by boat with Xie Lingjiang.
He stood with his junior sister in the office of the officials, in the room they had visited the day before.
The doors and windows were open.
Yan Liulang was leading the constables to examine the clues inside the house.
"What is this? How did I get an extra sword?"
Ouyang Rong raised his sleeve to cover his mouth and nose, then gestured to a long sword lying quietly next to the somewhat rotten head on the table, and asked curiously.
"Reporting to the magistrate, when the clerk delivering breakfast came in this morning and found the person dead, the scene was like this. No one touched it," a constable said, bowing.
Ouyang Rong nodded and curiously examined the two items on the table.
Xie Lingjiang didn't cover her nose. She walked straight forward, bent down slightly, and examined the severed head. On Liu Ziwen's face, which was quite familiar, was a shocked expression, as if he had been frozen in the moment before his death.
Xie Lingjiang turned her head and glanced at the headless corpse on the bed again, and said directly:
"Senior Brother, the perpetrator is left-handed. If the murder weapon is this long sword, to be able to cleanly and neatly sever someone's head in such a narrow space as a bed is not something an ordinary martial artist can do. Judging from the appearance, he has spiritual cultivation, at least the eighth rank."
She reached out and grabbed the longsword again, and with a "clang," the sword was drawn.
The room seemed a third brighter.
"Huh?"
Xie Lingjiang couldn't help but glance at it twice, then held the sword horizontally and placed it in the sunlight outside the door to examine it, murmuring softly:
"Its color is like moonlight, its brilliance like dew... its flowing brilliance is like twinkling stars, its shimmering light is like a gentle breeze."
"A fine sword."
She looked up and said:
"Not to mention in the martial arts world of Tiannan, even in the martial arts world of the ten regions of the north and south, this is a fine sword that even top-grade sword cultivators would covet. It is of extremely high quality."
Xie Lingjiang clicked her tongue in amazement, then turned to Ouyang Rong with a puzzled expression:
"If it had appeared in the Yunmeng Sword Marsh next door, I wouldn't be too surprised. But now it's at a murder scene, right next to Liu Ziwen's head. What is the perpetrator trying to do? What is their intention?"
Ouyang Rong raised an eyebrow upon hearing this.
Now that Liu has been publicly tried and sentenced, her infamy is widespread. In the past few days, she has been dismembered by him and the Longcheng County government.
As the saying goes, when a wall falls, everyone pushes it down. Enemies from all walks of life came seeking revenge. Ouyang Rong was not surprised, but he felt a little helpless.
After all, although he only planned to pass through this world quickly and not go too deep, the extraordinary power of the Qi cultivators still left him speechless.
The chivalrous use of martial arts to disrupt the law, right? But how did this chaos end up in a small county like Longcheng?
Moreover, what's with this situation where gold coins and top-tier equipment seem to explode right now?
Ouyang Rong suddenly stretched out his hand, and Xie Lingjiang obediently sheathed the sword and handed it to his senior brother.
Ouyang Rong did not draw his sword. He examined the scabbard and hilt, and suddenly seemed to see a certain engraving on the scabbard.
It vaguely resembles the character "吴".
"uh-huh."
He snorted, turned his head and beckoned to his subordinates.
Nowadays, almost every sword made from a well-known sword shop or forge has a special engraving, which can be considered a mark of craftsmanship or anti-counterfeiting.
Ouyang Rong had the county government invite an experienced and discerning old craftsman to examine the strangely exposed sword.
The old craftsman bowed respectfully and said:
"Your Excellency, judging from the engravings on this scabbard, this sword should have come from the ancient Yue sword shop. However, this kind of engraving is very old and has long been eliminated by the swordsmiths of the Butterfly West Bank."
"Ever since the Liu family of Longcheng rebuilt their sword shop, they have been using new engravings for newly forged swords. However, this sword looks brand new, as if it has only been sharpened recently. And look at this tassel; it comes from the tassel workshop of the Guyue Sword Shop..."
"This is a new sword; I wonder which forge it came from in the ancient Yue sword workshop."
After the old craftsman finished his report, he was led away.
Ouyang Rong lowered his eyes to examine the sword, then turned to exchange a glance with Xie Lingjiang.
It's the Ancient Yue Sword Shop again.
Ouyang Rong silently gazed out the window toward the west bank of Butterfly Creek.
This time, taking advantage of the public trial, the Liu family was dismantled. From the perspective of the people of Longcheng County, this was no different from the destruction of the Liu family.
The Liu family of Longcheng handed over all their businesses and fertile land in the county, except for the Guyue Sword Shop, so that they would no longer leech off Longcheng County.
However, the only remaining ancient Yue sword shop is still in the hands of the brothers Liu Zian and Liu Zilin.
Previously, Ouyang Rong had said there was no rush, feeling that there was no great threat.
However, it seems that...
Ouyang Rong suddenly turned his head and said:
"In Longcheng County, there is no place beyond the law."
Xie Lingjiang glanced at her senior brother.
...
Liu Ziwen's head and body were returned to the Liu family.
If Liu Ziwen were still alive, or if he knew from beyond the grave, he would surely remember the words he uttered at Yuanming Tower: "Respect for the dead is paramount."
With the Ghost Festival approaching, the Liu family had prepared some items for ancestor worship and funerals, but unexpectedly, they ended up being used by Liu Ziwen.
However, the case involving Liu Ziwen did not end so easily.
The case of transporting demon oil and ribbon-cutting gifts, impersonating the county magistrate, and assassinating the inspector remains unresolved at the county government office.
These two major cases were actually committed by the Liu family and the swordsmiths, who were sent by the Jade Cup Fairy who had lost her mind.
It was still a conspiracy by Liu Ziwen and other members of the Liu family, and the Jade Cup Fairy was merely following orders.
The two are worlds apart.
If it is the latter, even if Liu Ziwen has been beheaded by the unknown Qi cultivator, the Liu family will still be implicated. This is not as simple as just giving away all their wealth and surrendering to avoid disaster. Even if the governor of Jiangzhou pleads and vouches for them, it will still be useless.
However, the Jade Cup Fairy is currently in a coma.
Lacking key evidence,
She should be the one who knows best about the crimes committed by the Liu family.
In fact, this interrupted case is quite troublesome to solve, and Ouyang Rong has already prepared for the worst.
Although at present, the dismembered Liu family no longer poses much of a threat to Longcheng County.
Once this rainy season is completely over, and the Digong Sluice Gate and Zheyi Canal have withstood the flood, then Longcheng County will no longer need to worry about water management for the next two years.
With this, Ouyang Rong had almost finished the business he came to Longcheng from the mountain, and could now turn his attention to the Pure Land Palace and consider returning home...
However, in the past two days, Ouyang Rong discovered that he wondered if the Jade Cup Fairy and the Liu family had seriously offended his junior sister.
The junior sister was extremely persistent and serious about this case, running to the official residence every day to find a way to awaken the Jade Cup Fairy, hoping to pry open her mouth and resolve the cases of Di Gong's gate explosion and ribbon-cutting assassination.
Although everyone had a vague idea of the real answer.
Ouyang Rong, who had refocused his efforts on flood control, naturally wouldn't stop him; in fact, he quite encouraged it...
This day.
Night fell.
The Liu Family Mansion.
In a mourning hall where white silk ribbons fluttered and white candles flickered, the sound of weeping filled the air.
Xu and other members of the Liu family wore mourning clothes and wept in the mourning hall.
However, right now, the Liu family is in the eye of the storm, facing a situation where everyone in the county is calling for their destruction and everyone wants a piece of their flesh.
The mourning hall was open from dusk until late at night, but few people came to offer incense and pay their respects.
Even the other Liu clan brothers who were dividing up the family property were nowhere to be seen.
In the mourning hall, only a few figures, including Liu Zian, Liu Zilin, Madam Xu, and the old servant Liu Fu, stood guard beside the coffin.
The cries of women and children made the mourning hall seem even more empty.
"Sister-in-law, please accept my condolences."
Liu Zian looked sorrowful and softly advised.
"Sister-in-law, listen to your second brother, go back and rest first."
Looking haggard, Liu Zilin also knelt down and moved forward, offering a word of advice.
Xu's eyes were red from crying, and she shook her head in grief.
The crowd prostrated themselves on the ground and wept for a while.
Liu Zian knelt up, his expression becoming more resolute. He took the initiative to comfort everyone, and then led Liu Zilin and the others to keep vigil with Madam Xu.
As night fell, everyone prepared to leave for the time being.
"Second brother, go back and rest. Don't be too heartbroken and ruin your health. Come back later tonight."
Looking ahead, Liu Zilin couldn't help but say:
"Now that your elder brother is gone, you are the pillar of this family. You must not be harmed, otherwise who will avenge your brother..."
Liu Zian stubbornly shook his head, turned his back to Liu Zilin, and stared at Liu Ziwen's coffin in front of him.
"You guys go and rest first, I'll spend more time with my older brother."
He took a deep breath.
Seeing that their persuasion was ineffective, Liu Zilin and the other servants soon withdrew.
That night, only Liu Zian and Xu Shi were left to keep watch diligently. When dawn broke, Xu Shi was too tired, so the servants took her to the back room to rest, leaving Liu Zian alone.
Outside the mourning hall, Liu Zilin and the others, who had rested overnight and arrived in the morning, exchanged glances when they saw Liu Zian's tall and silent figure in front of the coffin.
The doubts in many people's eyes vanished, replaced by expressions of admiration and gratitude.
The Liu family, which had been in a state of panic these past few days because of Liu Ziwen's last words, has gradually calmed down a bit.
Even though someone took over the morning shift at the mourning hall, Liu Zi'an remained silent, not eating a single grain of rice for a whole day and night, and continued to keep vigil with Xu Shi, Liu Zilin and others who gradually returned.
The figure knelt at the very front of the coffin, as always amidst the wind and rain.
As evening approached, the vigil at the mourning hall ended, and Liu Zian silently rose, wearily seeing off the few remaining mourners.
He rubbed his cheeks and, with slightly unsteady steps, saw off his third brother, Liu Zilin, and his eldest sister-in-law, Xu. As they parted, he tearfully offered some words of advice.
If it weren't for her swaying figure and being dissuaded by Liu Zilin and Xu Shi, she probably would have continued to dutifully escort them back to the courtyard.
The mourning hall dispersed, and everyone returned to their courtyard.
Liu Zian sighed softly, rubbed his tired face, and turned to dismiss the servants.
He turned around and walked back to his courtyard along the familiar winding corridor.
The courtyard was simple, even somewhat empty.
This is because the owner of the courtyard has lived a simple life for many years.
Liu Zian silently pushed open the door.
The bed in the inner room was folded into a neat square.
The items on the table and cabinets were arranged neatly and orderly.
All of this demonstrates the homeowner's self-discipline and fastidiousness.
After Liu Zian entered the room, he closed the door and did not turn on the lights.
He walked straight over and sat down silently at a round table.
Outside the window, the setting sun, filtering in at dusk, slowly slants and eventually disappears.
Darkness began to take over the empty, silent room.
Liu Zian, dressed in pure white mourning clothes, sat quietly for a while before reaching out to the teapot.
He paused halfway through extending his hand, his face contorted in a ferocious grimace.
"Liu Ziwen, you're finally dead! Good riddance, good riddance!"
A few things happened today, and I'm feeling a bit down, so this chapter is a bit rushed. Sorry, brothers.
(End of this chapter)
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